The Council of the European Union on July 15 sanctioned five people and three entities under its Global Human Rights sanctions regime for "serious and systematic human rights abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank," the council announced.
The Council of the European Union this week renewed until July 27, 2025, its sanctions on Iranian parties for supporting Russia's war in Ukraine. The restrictions apply to 12 people and nine entities, and were imposed on parties that supply unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles to the Russian military.
The Commerce Department’s spring 2024 regulatory agenda for the Bureau of Industry and Security features a range of upcoming rules that could update and expand U.S. export control regulations, including new controls on the activities of U.S. persons in support of foreign military and intelligence agencies, revised regulatory language to address “diversion concerns,” new multilateral restrictions on emerging technologies and broader license requirements for Pakistan.
The EU General Court in a pair of decisions July 10 annuled the sanctions listings for two former Democratic Republic of Congo officials -- Evariste Boshab, former deputy prime minister and minister of the interior and security, and Alex Mupompa, former governor of Kasai Central and member of parliament, according to an unofficial translation.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it opposes legislation planned by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., that could lead to new sanctions on Chinese military firms.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control last week released another video in its ongoing effort to provide guidance on U.S. sanctions programs and rules. The latest episode, released July 12, features guidance on “what it means when funds are blocked in connection with OFAC sanctions, as well as recommended steps for what to do if your funds have been blocked.”
China last week announced sanctions against six American defense companies and their senior executives for arms sales to Taiwan. The measures, taken under China’s anti-foreign sanctions law (see 2309270039 and 2310230032), target Anduril Industries, Maritime Tactical Systems, Pacific Rim Defense, AEVEX Aerospace, LKD Aerospace and Summit Technologies, according to an unofficial translation of a July 12 notice from the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry said the sanctions freeze those companies’ assets in China, and Chinese companies will be barred from doing certain business with their executives. Spokespeople for the six companies didn’t respond to a request for comment.
The U.S. last week sanctioned Iran-based Hakiman Shargh Research Company and added it to its Specially Designated Nationals List for its ties to Iran’s chemical weapons research and development efforts, the State Department said. The agency said the designation "follows the United States’ repeated calls for Iran to remedy its noncompliance" with the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Chinese and South Korean officials last week held their first meeting of a new export control dialogue forum in Beijing, where they “exchanged in-depth views on relevant export control issues,” China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a news release, according to an unofficial translation. The two sides also agreed to continue “close communication, create good conditions for the normal development of bilateral trade, and work together” to maintain the “smooth flow” of supply chains. The meeting was held about two weeks after the U.S. and South Korea discussed export controls as part of the second meeting of the U.S.-Korea Supply Chain and Commercial Dialogue Ministerial (see 2406280026).
The EU last week called on traders to bolster their export compliance programs, warning that it plans to continue expanding its restrictions on Russia and will target more third-country customers illegally transshipping controlled items to Russia’s military.